'Reject Religious Right effort'

Americans United for Separation of Church & State is weighing in on Florida's proposed science standards, saying in a letter today that the Board of Education "should not risk the sound scientific education of Florida's children or costly litigation that could result" by adopting standards that include creationism or intelligent design. In a related statement, it said the BOE should reject "Religious Right activists" who are "intently lobbying the board to water down the standards in keeping with fundamentalist Christian theology."

The letter from Dena S. Sher, state legislative counsel for Americans United, to BOE Chair T. Willard Fair also offered a response to opponents who say they want evolution taught, but with its flaws and gaps included. Citing the National Academies of Science's recent publication, "Science, Evolution, and Creationism," Sher wrote, "Arguments that students should learn about 'fundamental weaknesses in the science of evolution are unwarranted based on the overwhelming evidence that supports the theory' and will only harm students' education."

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Gradebook features education articles and insights on schools in Florida, focusing on Tampa Bay area schools. What's the latest from the Florida Department of Education? How is the FCAT being used to compare Florida schools? What's going on in Tampa Bay schools? Get an insider's view from the Times education reporting team.